COLRAD plasma sprayed

Project Description

This project, in collaboration with NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, focused on developing titanium coatings reinforced with hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) to improve the performance of aluminum and titanium lightweight alloys used in space systems. These materials have a great strength-to-weight ratio, but they struggle with early failure from lunar dust exposure and inadequate radiation protection. By using both air and vacuum plasma spraying with 2% and 10% hBN, we tested the coatings with a lunar dust simulant and found that the Ti/2 vol% hBN coatings showed 90% less wear compared to standard materials. The coatings also improved radiation shielding by 27%.

Accomplishments

Problem Solving
Developed effective solutions to address the challenges of wear and radiation protection in lightweight alloys used in space applications.
Teamwork with NASA Engineers
Collaborated closely with engineers at NASA to integrate expertise and insights throughout the project, enhancing the research outcomes.
Publication of Research Findings
Successfully published the research findings, contributing to the scientific community’s understanding of advanced coatings for aerospace applications.